The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed that 32 people were aboard a military aircraft that crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was travelling from Benin to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 a.m. on Monday.
Keyamo, in a statement issued on Monday, said all efforts to re-establish radio contact with the aircraft proved unsuccessful before subsequent information confirmed that it had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda.
He said the wreckage had been located, while search and rescue operations were ongoing.
According to the minister, preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board, bringing the total number of people aboard to 32.
“I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, en route Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” Keyamo said.
He added: “Subsequent information, however, confirmed that the military aircraft crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located and search and rescue operations are ongoing.”
Keyamo noted that the control and regulation of military aircraft fell outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
He, however, said he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s full cooperation and assistance to the ongoing search and rescue efforts.
“Preliminary information suggests that there were 25 passengers and 7 crew members on board,” the minister said.
Further details, including the condition of those aboard and the circumstances surrounding the crash, were expected to be released as the rescue operation progressed.
